Readers Write (April 5): Macy's, health plan losses, liberal opposition to vouchers, 'market forces' and coal and renewable energy, town halls

I finally decided to break up with you, Macy's. After you moved out of downtown, I thought we could work things out, but it really is you, not me. We had such a good relationship for so many years. I could just walk over anytime, and you always had what I needed. I even moved downtown to be closer to you! Then you just packed up and left. The next day your name was scratched off the stars in the windows and even your bronze name plaques were gone, like you were never there. I'm not following you out to the suburbs. I'll probably find a new relationship, maybe online. And don't be upset if you see me online and I ignore you — the memories are just too painful. If I'm honest, I've been attracted to more independent, one-of-a-kind types anyway. I'll play the field and go out with smaller places for now, maybe in the North Loop or Uptown. Anyway, when I pass by Mary Tyler Moore's statue in front of our old building downtown, I'll remind myself that I just might make it after all.

The April 4 Star Tribune reported that Minnesota health plans posted $687 million in losses in 2016. The article goes on to say, "In seven of the last 10 years, however, health insurers made a profit. The numbers reported Monday by the trade group focus only on revenue and income from the health insurance business, without factoring investment returns."

I'm just not understanding. UnitedHealth Group stock was at $36 per share in 2011, and on Tuesday it was at $165 per share. CEO Stephen Hemsley made $20 million in 2016, down from $66 million in 2015. Who, exactly, is being hurt by these health plan losses?

In an April 4 commentary, Steve Kelley made a plea that taxpayers must not pay for religious education. This is in opposition to the Trump administration's support for school vouchers, and the headline clearly states his message. He's really worried about public funds being used to teach religion because, in his opinion, voucher funds are commingled with other nonpublic school funds, thereby apparently subsidizing religious courses.

Kelley would probably refer to vouchers as a violation of the concept of "separation of church and state," while I prefer that the concept be described as "religious freedom." I understand some of his concern. My only point is that this liberal argument contradicts some other statements about conservative ideas.

For example, conservatives object to funding Planned Parenthood because it's illegal for government funds to be used to pay for abortions. Planned Parenthood responds to this essentially with the argument that government funds are kept apart from the abortion services. That's a contradiction to Kelley's argument about vouchers, because the funds are commingled in much the same way.

Let's also recall the Catholic Church's official objection to Obamacare's requirement for insurance coverage of birth control. The Obama administration's response was to do a bit of "rhetorical separation" of the funds from the benefits and declare that all was well. But that was a ruse, because, once again, the funds are commingled in much the same way.

Paul Anton's April 4 commentary "Hopeful coal miners are pawns in an economic scam" was simply absurd in its refusal to even acknowledge the economic basis for so-called renewable energy such as solar and wind, or the source of the difficulty the coal industry has faced in recent years.

Anton states that it is market forces that have undermined coal because renewable energy is cheaper. This is just laughable. Solar and wind energy on a stand-alone basis cost multiples of carbon-based energy. They exist only because they are heavily subsidized by governments and because of government mandates for their use. The cost of these subsidies and mandates is borne by consumers, both in higher electricity rates and in taxes. And coal has been heavily penalized by government regulation, raising its cost. In a truly free market, coal would remain far cheaper than solar or wind, not to mention infinitely more reliable. And while environmental concerns, other than the debatable impact of CO2 emissions, have largely been resolved for coal, they have been ignored for wind and solar.

People who want to force us all to use and pay more for renewables should at least be honest about what they are doing and not make up market-force rationales that don't exist.

I recently contacted our two U.S. senators regarding their position on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. I requested that they reconsider their opposition, since, from my review, the judge is qualified to fulfill the position. While I am no expert on this matter, it seems that both liberals and conservatives consider Gorsuch very qualified.

I received responses from both Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Al Franken. The former was generic and the latter was more specific, which I greatly appreciated. I truly hope that each of our senators oppose Gorsuch for reasons other than political party compliance. If not, the consequences could be crucial in coming years/elections.

More recently, I sent another message to the senators, again asking them to reconsider. Based on the vote this week, all Minnesotans will know where our Senate representatives stand.

As I walked into the Waconia City Hall for the District 47 Town Hall last Saturday, I braced myself for screaming, empty-headed constituents armed with homemade signs spoiling for chair-throwing fights. Basically, WrestleMania.

Thank goodness I got the opposite. The Republican hosts (Sen. Scott Jensen, Rep. Joe Hoppe and Rep. Jim Nash) began with the Pledge of Allegiance, and for the entirety of the 80-minute forum the room stayed calm, the conversations were nuanced and the topics were diverse. Props to these politicians for taking tough, unscripted questions rather than using audience plants armed with cue cards. Instead we talked about issues that affect real Minnesotans. Everyone from the sassy senior citizen advocating for Meals on Wheels to the kindergarten teacher asking about Minnesota's tax credit programs for public schools was informed and passionate.

Afterward I thanked Sen. Jensen for his openness in holding the forum. Though we disagree on some issues, I respected his response: "I need to hear you. We need these [town halls] to know how you feel."

Well said, senator! If you give people the chance to engage and work together, they may surprise you. Meanwhile, my federal representative, Erik Paulsen, has not held an open, in-person town hall like this in six-and-a-half years. Having seen thoughtful, mature, intelligent Minnesotans in action, I assure you, Rep. Paulsen, that they do not bite: They are real, down-to-earth people, and they deserve to be heard.